Previously on the Vine and Branch journey:
Then with his mother's help Jacob stole Isaac's blessing from Esau. Genesis 27
Then Jacob ran away and had a huge family (much drama!) Genesis 29-30
He thought Esau would kill him when he returned home! But look what happened.
Jacob Meets Esau
33 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
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| Jacob and Esau Meet by Francesco Hayez 1844 |
4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5 And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”6 Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. 8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10 Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. 11 Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.
Kim,
ReplyDeleteI've long been fascinated with Jacob for many reasons. In particular, I see this point after wrestling the angel at the Jabbok River as the one at which Jacob finally steps up and becomes a man. For your consideration:
" ... Jacob proved himself to be considerably less than worthy of such an honor--a superb example of God's great mercy and patience, but not much of an example of personal faithfulness. Moreover, Jacob was basically a wimp from early on--a mama's boy, in contrast to his manly brother Esau. He got what he wanted through deceit and conniving, and then by running away whenever things get dangerous.
"His weak and servile interaction with Rachel and Leah betrayed the pathetic depths to which he had fallen. He slept with whomever he was told, including the maidservants. At a particularly low moment he allowed Leah to buy his "services" from Rachel for a night with her son's mandrakes. To put it crudely, he played the prostitute while Rachel played the pimp.
"Jacob's early encounter's with God seemed to lead nowhere. He was impressed by the experiences, but his commitments were tentative and conditional: "If God will ... then the LORD will be my God". This is hardly to be confused with the "Here am I, send me!" of Isaiah. But then the wimpy weasel who was Jacob at this point could hardly be confused with the pillar of strength and devotion who was Isaiah. We can almost rationalize God's forgiveness of Isaiah's "unclean lips" on the basis of his comparative righteousness ... Jacob's filthy "lips" would seem to demand a harsher judgment. Obviously this reveals a misunderstanding of the "filthy rags" nature of man's righteousness. Isaiah was certainly not impressed by his own righteousness, but Jacob's failure to be impressed by God's majesty and mercy still seems troubling.
"Ultimately, however, God's long patience and preparation culminates at the Jabbok River. There's nothing like impending doom (the approach of his brother and enemy Esau with 400 men) to concentrate the mind. Jacob's prayers take on a new urgency and humility ("I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant.") but still his actions reveal his self-centeredness and cowardice, as he sends his servants ahead with bribes and then even his family ahead of him across the river, placing them between himself and the threat.
"God has planned this moment, however, and at the same time as He humbles Jacob, He also wants to build him up. God wants Jacob to submit, of course, but He also wants Jacob to be a man and to stop running and engage with Him. So Jacob is not presented with a test of cleverness, but a test of physical strength and endurance. The wrestling match with the angel goes on all night, and God allows Jacob some degree of success, though in the end the power of God is clear when Jacob's hip is wrenched. Still, Jacob learns tenacity, and refuses to let go unless he is blessed. Jacob needs to learn humility and submission, but he also needs to learn the courage and responsibility that comes with manhood.
"Jacob's response demonstrates that he was finally prepared to take the lesson to heart. He rises, limping and humbled, and then moves across the river and passes in front of his household to meet Esau himself. He bows down to Esau, accepting Esau's judgment as God's own, and receives mercy. It was, at long last, an act of faith, humility ... and the act of a man."
The rest of it is here (but you get the idea): http://www.philippianjailer.com/2009/03/jacob-becomes-man.html
This is excellent, my take too, but better articulated. I was hoping for just such comments when I started this blog. I have learned so much from Genesis. I have come to believe it teaches us just about everything we need to know about human behavior and why we so desperately need the great and glorious God who created heaven and earth. In his mercy he even gave us a way to reach him through Christ. I am humbled and delighted by your comments. Bless you.
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